Grand Rapids city leaders pursued the purchase of the former Naval and Marine Corps Reserve property on Monroe Avenue NW just south of Riverside Park for a mixed-use development.
City Planning Director Kristin Turkelson says it would include residential, retail, community space and public river access.
" We called it an innovation center in the city master plan. The intention behind it was to accommodate a broad range of flexible employment opportunities, active ground floor uses along the streets and promote compact and walkable areas."
When the federal government’s asking price was more than local developers’ valuation, city leaders were unable to reach a deal.
This month, Morrison Industries, headquartered just south of the site, won the federal auction with a $3.1 million bid.
Company leaders have said publicly that if the sale goes through, they plan to demolish the current buildings in preparation for future expansion but have no immediate development plans.
Turkelson notes there are regulations limiting the property and has reached out to company leaders to open a conversation.
"The zoning ordinance would work in partnership with the community master plan to inform what could happen on that particular property. We still have the riverfront trail, and we would work with whether it's Morrison or any entity that owned it to help make sure their plans align with the vision and requirements for the city."
Morrison Industries is awaiting the U.S. General Services Administration to accept or reject its bid after review.
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